The Squirrel Effect and What it Means for Your Decision Making

There is a reason my newsletter is coming out on the last day of the month. I call that reason The Squirrel Effect.

Have you ever looked like that fluffy little guy over there?

We’ve all experienced it. You are driving down the road, a squirrel darts out in front of your car. Then freezes. Then panics. Then darts away in some direction – any direction.

Isn’t that how our decision making often goes? 

You work yourself up, complaining about a situation for days, months (years?). Decide on all the reasons it’s time to make a change. Pump yourself up: “I’m committed! I’m doing it! It’s time! I can’t deal with this any longer!” You summon the courage and start to run.

Then freeze.

And panic.

And you feel sure of certain death because of the big or sometimes little (I won’t judge) decision you’ve just hurtled yourself into.

• What if it’s the wrong decision?
• What if it doesn’t work out the way you want it to?
• What if you get hurt emotionally?
• What if you hurt someone else emotionally?
• What if you can’t go back?
• What if it doesn’t sound the way you want it to?
• What if people don’t get it? (this was my fear in writing this one!)
• What if you can’t find the work?
• What if it’s too much work?
• This feels way too risky, why in the world did you decide this was a good idea again?
• What if this was all just a terrible, horrible idea?
• Who were you to think you could be that strong/smart/brave? Or have that much? Or be that big in this world?

So then you retreat and you pick a direction – any direction – without thinking it through just to get out of the panic you are currently in.

Often this means going backwards or second guessing the decision that just a few days ago you had fully committed to and had decided was your best option based on what you wanted most.

What the heck did you just do?

You talked yourself out of something that could have been amazing for your wellbeing, your life and your future. Often this occurs because you are trying to expand into being bigger, greater, more successful and happier than you currently are. And that, my friend, can be super scary. It’s a risk. A leap of faith. A hope and a dream. Until you make it a reality.

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Are you willing to fight for and focus on what is possible instead of what is limiting you?

If you said no – then stop reading.

If you said yes – even if that felt scary – then I count you in to the Momentum club. And you can look more like this furry guy with the prize instead of that frozen one we first saw.

Back in December, I wrote about starting a “get real” movement. This is part of it. Moving forward. Flaws and failures and all. Making decisions about what will make you happiest. And following through. Pushing through the fear! Then trusting that life will unfold from there as it’s meant to because you made the decision to be happier. Afterall, you did talk yourself up to it, think it through ahead of time and make the decision.

You can’t be successful 100% of the time. If you have been, I truly want to talk to you! But you can be sure that your decisions lead to more fun and happiness. While steering you away from frustration, anxiety and disappointment. It really is all up to you.

To Adventures and Surprises!
Katie